The second edition of the HRSA-supported Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs is now available to the public. 

Caring for Our Children covers topics such as health promotion, nutrition and food services, safe-play environments and program activities for healthy development.  It includes a comprehensive set of health and safety performance guidelines or “standards” with accompanying “rationales” for child care providers, parents of children in child care, health professionals and state health officials.  Care providers can also find information about plans and equipment for children with special needs and can access medical treatment forms in the appendices.

The first edition of Caring for our Children, published in 1992, has been a leading tool in ensuring child health and safety in homes and day care centers.  The second edition was a collaborative effort of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association, HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the HRSA-supported National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care at the University of Colorado, Denver.  Experts from these organizations helped expand the second edition's guidelines in light of current research and information about child health and safety.

Downloadable and printed versions of Caring for Our Children are available from the resource center or by calling 1-800-598-KIDS.

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